A new law was signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Thursday that has abortion advocates up in arms. The new law, titled Women’s Health and Safety Act deems a woman pregnant 2 weeks before conception.

According to Planned Parenthood of Arizona lobbyist Michelle Steinberg, the law will reduce the amount of time a legal abortion can be obtained by women. Steinberg stated that, the law is our nation’s “most extreme piece of anti-abortion legislation.”

The bill was sponsored by Arizona State Rep. Kimberly Yee. Yee is also an ardent supporter of drug testing anyone who receives welfare assistance. She is considered by some to be an “extremist”.

Steinberg explained the law by saying, “The law defines pregnancy in a way that bans abortion two weeks before the other seven states who have similar laws. It calculates gestational age starting with the first day of the last menstrual period rather than the date of conception.”

The law which should go into effect later this month also now requires any women who want to have an abortion to have an ultrasound 24 hours before the procedure. The current law will allow abortions to be performed up until the time that the fetus could “reasonably survive outside the womb”. This is around 22 to 24 weeks.

With the current law, a woman could still legally have an abortion after that time if it was to “protect the life or health of the woman”. That would no longer be the case with the new law.

Jordan Goldberg is the Center of Reproductive Rights state advocacy counsel. He stated that the law “disregards women’s health in a way I’ve never seen before. The women of Arizona can’t access medical treatments that other women can.”

What do you think? Should gestational age be figured from the first day of the last menstrual cycle or from the date of conception?

A new law was signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on Thursday that has abortion advocates up in arms. The new law, titled Women’s Health and Safety Act deems a woman pregnant 2 weeks before conception.

According to Planned Parenthood of Arizona lobbyist Michelle Steinberg, the law will reduce the amount of time a legal abortion can be obtained by women. Steinberg stated that, the law is our nation’s “most extreme piece of anti-abortion legislation.”

The bill was sponsored by Arizona State Rep. Kimberly Yee. Yee is also an ardent supporter of drug testing anyone who receives welfare assistance. She is considered by some to be an “extremist”.

Steinberg explained the law by saying, “The law defines pregnancy in a way that bans abortion two weeks before the other seven states who have similar laws. It calculates gestational age starting with the first day of the last menstrual period rather than the date of conception.”

The law which should go into effect later this month also now requires any women who want to have an abortion to have an ultrasound 24 hours before the procedure. The current law will allow abortions to be performed up until the time that the fetus could “reasonably survive outside the womb”. This is around 22 to 24 weeks.

With the current law, a woman could still legally have an abortion after that time if it was to “protect the life or health of the woman”. That would no longer be the case with the new law.

Jordan Goldberg is the Center of Reproductive Rights state advocacy counsel. He stated that the law “disregards women’s health in a way I’ve never seen before. The women of Arizona can’t access medical treatments that other women can.”

What do you think? Should gestational age be figured from the first day of the last menstrual cycle or from the date of conception?

Wouldn't this just force women to lie about their last period date? Who's going to prove them wrong? And if it's only two weeks I doubt they could really dispute it what with the variations in ovulation and implantation.

Wouldn't this just force women to lie about their last period date? Who's going to prove them wrong? And if it's only two weeks I doubt they could really dispute it what with the variations in ovulation and implantation.

What about women who have one period a year and end up pregnant? I know it's not that common, but it can happen. That's what happened to my sister. So according to her last period she would have been be over 52 weeks pregnant.

What about women who have one period a year and end up pregnant? I know it's not that common, but it can happen. That's what happened to my sister. So according to her last period she would have been be over 52 weeks pregnant.

i am not by any means supporting this bill because they r crazy.. BUT when u are calculating how far along u r in pregnancy u count 2 wks b4 conception, (lmp) so isnt it the same thing... or am i missing something?

i am not by any means supporting this bill because they r crazy.. BUT when u are calculating how far along u r in pregnancy u count 2 wks b4 conception, (lmp) so isnt it the same thing... or am i missing something?

Overjoy that's incorrect. Typically ovulation (therefore possible conception) doesn't even occur until many days past your period, often even a couple weeks. Implantation occurs 7-11 ish days after ovulation. Technically you aren't pregnant for those first two weeks of your pregnancy if the menstrual period is used to calculate due date.

Overjoy that's incorrect. Typically ovulation (therefore possible conception) doesn't even occur until many days past your period, often even a couple weeks. Implantation occurs 7-11 ish days after ovulation. Technically you aren't pregnant for those first two weeks of your pregnancy if the menstrual period is used to calculate due date.

So you mean my olive may really be a plum? Ridiculous. Obviously, this whole thing is ridiculous. Why are extremists like this allowed to change scientific and/or medical fact? It's always the same group

So you mean my olive may really be a plum? Ridiculous. Obviously, this whole thing is ridiculous. Why are extremists like this allowed to change scientific and/or medical fact? It's always the same group

Aditch, I believe (but don't mind being corrected if I'm wrong on this) that they're trying to use this to actually shorten the window of time when abortion is available. It's as if they're now acting like they're 2 weeks closer to having a viable fetus, so the cutoff is quicker.

Aditch, I believe (but don't mind being corrected if I'm wrong on this) that they're trying to use this to actually shorten the window of time when abortion is available. It's as if they're now acting like they're 2 weeks closer to having a viable fetus, so the cutoff is quicker.

Overjoy, when calculating due date the most common way is to count back to your period. So when you find out for the first time, you're usually 4-5 weeks pregnant as it is calculated. However, your ovulation occurred 2 weeks give or take in to that 4-5 weeks. Technically, there was no pregnancy then. You can try to argue it, or you can look it up.

Overjoy, when calculating due date the most common way is to count back to your period. So when you find out for the first time, you're usually 4-5 weeks pregnant as it is calculated. However, your ovulation occurred 2 weeks give or take in to that 4-5 weeks. Technically, there was no pregnancy then. You can try to argue it, or you can look it up.

But they date the estimated gestational age due to the sonogram, right? So the LMP may show an age of 9 weeks but after the first sonogram there could be a later or earlier due date. I'm very familiar with this lately because due dates are changing all over my HB and itssounfair!

But they date the estimated gestational age due to the sonogram, right? So the LMP may show an age of 9 weeks but after the first sonogram there could be a later or earlier due date. I'm very familiar with this lately because due dates are changing all over my HB and itssounfair!

I think it's much more harmful that a woman can't obtain an abortion for her own health after this law is passed.

I'm afraid of the 'if you give an inch they take a mile' with the whole two week concept. It doesn't make a huge difference right now in terms of dates but this is opening up a lot of dangerous anti-abortion legislation.

I think it's much more harmful that a woman can't obtain an abortion for her own health after this law is passed.

I'm afraid of the 'if you give an inch they take a mile' with the whole two week concept. It doesn't make a huge difference right now in terms of dates but this is opening up a lot of dangerous anti-abortion legislation.

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